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Category Archives: Accident

A recent northern Nevada accident and DUI are calling into question the performance of state agencies for controlling multiple DUI offenders. DUI accidents in Nevada are unfortunately fairly common in Southern Nevada as well as in Northern Nevada. Drivers are generally supposed to be pulled off the road after their third DUI arrest, but the victim of a recent accident contends that the agency responsible for monitoring and enforcing that did not do its job, and that’s why her car is totaled, and she’s left holding the bag. From that recent news story:

“Stafford’s insurance paid only $7,000 for the totaled 2004 Honda CR-V, not enough, she said, to buy a comparably maintained and reliable vehicle. She now has a car payment she wasn’t expecting.

The Carson City Sheriff’s Office and the city district attorney are investigating the accident that ruined Stafford’s car as another impaired driving incident. Reports say police found medication in Reasoner’s state-owned Ford Explorer and he had traces of the prescription sedative Soma in his system.

‘I don’t make much money and am on a budget, so it’s going to be a hardship making that monthly payment,’ Stafford said.

But she concedes that the damage from the accident could have been worse, given that the vehicle was unoccupied when Reasoner hit it.

‘I was sitting in the car watching Netflix during my lunch hour,’ she said. The crash ‘probably would have killed me’ if the accident had happened a couple of hours earlier, she said.

No one was injured in the wreck. But a witness who was sitting in a nearby car said the state sport utility vehicle nearly hit her vehicle.

Stafford said the state hasn’t reached out to her and she only learned that a state employee was responsible after the Carson City District Attorney and her insurance company called her Wednesday about the incident. Those calls prompted her to obtain the police report.

Teri Williams, a spokeswoman for the agency that includes the transportation authority, declined to comment, directing questions to the state’s risk management department. It did not respond to a request for comment.”

If you suffer property damage from a DUI crash in Nevada, Benson & Bingham can help. Our attorneys deal with these kinds of cases all the time, and we know how to help. Contact us today for a free consultation to get started in reclaiming what you lost.

An awful crash yesterday on Nevada’s Kingsbury Grade caused the death of at least one person. Many other people were injured in this terrible wreck. The person killed was a woman. Her name is not being released, per usual protocol, until her family is notified. She did not die on scene of the accident, but rather succumbed to her injuries after being flown via helicopter to a hospital in Reno. One of the other people injured in the accident was also in bad enough condition to be taken to the hospital on that same Care Flight to Reno. There is some confusion from this news report on the Nevada vehicle fatality on Kingsbury Grade as to how many persons were transported on the air ambulance, whether it was one or two additional persons from the vehicles involved in the collision. There were at least two more injured persons taken to the hospital in regular ambulance transport. If you’re injured or a loved one is killed in a Nevada vehicle accident, Benson & Bingham can help. We know how to take a terrible situation for you and your family and make it just a little more manageable. We take away the financial and legal pressure to give you space to mourn and heal. Benson & Bingham offer free consultations to take the stress out of talking to a lawyer, too. Contact us today to see if we can help.

This Nevada vehicle death appears to have been caused by a head on collision. The two vehicles in the collision are reported to be a Nissan Pathfinder and motorhome. The driver of the Pathfinder is said to be the young woman who died from her injuries. It was said to have happened a little before 1:30 in the afternoon yesterday. The location is reported to have been just a little ways down the hill toward the valley from Tramway. People had to be extricated from both vehicles. The Nissan was also reported to have caught fire. The road was completely closed for what appears to have been a few hours while police worked to investigate and clear the scene. Nevada Highway Patrol reportedly indicated that the motorhome was a rented vehicle. Many questions have yet to be answered, such as which side of the road the accident occurred on and therefore which driver is likely to have been at fault in the accident.

Another horrible T-bone rollover crash in Nevada left two people dead over the weekend. This vehicle accident, a suspected DUI crash in Reno, happened in the evening on Saturday. The accident occurred in the Glendale Park area, at the big intersection of Rock Boulevard and Mill Street. Early reports from police indicate that a little past eight o’clock in the evening a vehicle blew through a red light as it was heading in the northern direction on Rock Boulevard. That vehicle, the one which allegedly ran the red light, struck another in the intersection, t-boning it and causing it to roll off of the road and into the undeveloped land there. The two passengers of this vehicle died right there on the side of the road, according to Reno Police. According to one of the news reports on this Nevada DUI rollover death,

“The man who ran the red light was transported to a nearby hospital . . . his injuries appear to be non-life threatening.

Officials said the man showed signs of being under the influence of alcohol, and they expect he will be booked into the Washoe County Jail for two counts of DUI causing death when he is released from the hospital.

…

The suspect driver is still in the hospital, according to Monday’s statement, and he will be identified once he is released.

The Reno Police Department Major Accident Investigation Team is investigating the crash. They are asking anyone who has information about this incident to contact the Reno Police Department at (775) 334-2115 or Secret Witness at (775) 322-4900. People can also submit a tip at www.secretwitness.com, or text the tip to 847411 (TIP 411) using the keyword ‘SW.’”

Crashes like this have made the news too much in recent weeks, with DUI crashes in Nevada taking the lives of people in Reno, Sparks, Las Vegas, and more. Benson & Bingham Attorneys at Law know we can’t bring loved ones back, and can’t take away the pain of losing them. But we also know that worrying about medical bills and funeral costs and the costs of missing work to grieve at this terrible time is just a bridge too far. Benson & Bingham’s lawyers look for all the ways to help lighten your load in this terrible time – it’s why we do what we do. We choose to do this work not because it’s easy or “fun” but because we can make a difference in the lives of people facing one of the worst things that a family or individual can face: the unexpected death of a loved one. Find out if Benson & Bingham can help you by contacting us today for a free, no obligation consultation.

Boating accidents in Nevada are unfortunately not uncommon. From the stunning vistas of Lake Tahoe to the party destination of Lake Mead, and everywhere in between, there is plenty of opportunity to be injured by a boat in Nevada. If no two car accident in Nevada are alike, no two boating accidents are, either. Sometimes they can be pretty straightforward, for sure. A boats pilot or captain not paying attention or obeying wake (speed) limits or right of ways, a drunk person operating a boat, etc. Then there are the more complicated ones, like a recent one in Lake Tahoe. Somehow a woman suffered serious injuries when her legs became entangled in the boat’s propellers. The woman was said to be in the midst of a fun outing, being pulled behind the boat on a tube, when the incident occurred. According to reports, she was in the process of climbing out of the water and onto the boat when somehow she got into the propellers. There was also reportedly some problems with the calls for help where search and rescue operations did not know where to find the woman and the boat and people she was with. She was not conscious, according to the first responders, when they arrived. However, they took her via Medivac helicopter to a hospital in Reno, and she was alive but still in a “serious” condition.

With Lake Mead’s proximity to Las Vegas, the area also has its share of boating accidents. Boat Safety is always an issue that often times is ignored. In addition, boating accidents occur quite frequently in the summer months. Many boaters die not only from carelessness, but reckless drunk driving and other boaters not paying attention.

Liability is usually easy to prove with boat accidents, but insurance coverage seems to be the biggest issue. Boat and watercraft coverage is becoming increasingly more difficult to obtain. Boats that run aground or malfunction can cause horrific damages. It is important that your attorney look into all avenues of recovery including the United States National Park Service. Contact Benson & Bingham for a free consultation if you’re injured in a boating accident in Nevada. Our top watercraft attorneys know the ins and outs of water law, which can be tricky. Benson & Bingham will explain your legal rights, and then it’s up to you – our initial consultation is free and is no obligation.

Pedestrian accidents in Nevada have been in the news all too much recently. Our sister offices have been following recent pedestrian accidents in Las Vegas. There’s news of a recent fatal pedestrian accident in Reno, and some of the details appear to unfortunately be the same. The initial reports are that this accident in Reno appears in initial reports to have been the result of the pedestrian crossing against the light and being struck by a vehicle.

If you’re the family of the man killed in a Nevada pedestrian traffic accident, this shouldn’t be the final word for you. At the very least, go see an experienced and qualified attorney like we have on staff at Benson & Bingham. The initial or even later word from the police might be that your loved one was crossing against the light, but their word is not able to be heard. That’s where a private attorney doing an independent investigation is needed. To determine if that is necessary, it is important to come speak to the pedestrian accident lawyers at Benson & Bingham Attorneys at Law. We’ll sit with you for free consultation to discuss your legal options. This consultation is no obligation, so no matter what you decide to do it’s your choice.

Why do we offer these free consultations with no obligation to use our services and legal firm? Because we are focused on helping the victims of accidents first, and worrying about everything else second. We believe that if the first thing we focus on is serving the victims of accidents, then business will flow from there. That’s why we have so much referral business and positive reports from clients. Benson & Bingham know that we can’t bring back your loved one, but we can bring you some piece of mind. Contact us today to learn your legal options.

What do we know about this case so far? The Nevada pedestrian death took place in an accident yesterday morning. According to the Reno Police Department, Center Street and Maple Street is the intersection where the deceased was crossing the street when he was struck. Law enforcement does not currently believe that there were any contributing factors along the lines of alcohol or excessive speed. These, however, are not determinations that should be taken at first and face value. Contact a qualified attorney today to give you peace of mind that you did everything you could to ensure that you and your family’s interests are front and center.

When you see the pictures and video from a news report on this Reno car crash, it’s hard to believe that, as the news story mentions, no injuries were sustained. One car is fully on its side and looking quite crushed in the middle of the freeway. The accident was reportedly on Interstate 395 in the area of the Oddie Boulevard exit. The accident occurred this evening just a little while before 7:30 in the evening. Multiple lanes were closed due to the accident and the emergency response. The Nevada Highway Patrol is the law enforcement agency reporting that no injuries were sustained in the accident. The freeway has since reopened. The closure of lanes and diversion of vehicles onto the shoulder made the commute very difficult this evening, as any accident usually does especially on that stretch of road.

What happens if you’re in an accident and the police determine that there were “no injuries,” but a few days later or a day later or a week later you start to feel pain? The most common locations for that pain to occur are the head, neck and back areas. This is common of a whiplash injury in Nevada. These often devastating injuries can take time to manifest, after the shock and adrenaline and all that wears off following an accident. And just because they are later to manifest doesn’t make them any less painful or costly than an immediate fracture or other more easily noticeable injury.

“The neck is a very fragile and unique area of the body as it contains the cervical vertebrae. The cervical region of the neck is the most common injury area in automobile accidents. The syndrome Las Vegas personal injury attorneys deal with frequently is known as whiplash where the neck is thrown in multiple directions shifting the normal curve of the spine and stretching ligaments and tendons. The human head weighs approximately 15 lbs and is supported by the spinal column. As we age, the bones become more brittle and actually calcify creating degeneration. This degeneration can become a catalyst for disc compression leading to nerve impingement, bulging discs, herniations, and annular tears. Just the same, these conditions can also be caused by trauma like a severe or moderate car accident . . . The most common injury in rear end car accidents are cervical sprain and strains. These injuries begin with a sharp pain in the neck, and continue with shoulder, trapezius, and upper back pain. Headaches can also be a classic symptom of cervical sprain. Most cervical strain and sprains will get better with time and are very responsive to therapy. Ice packs are a great idea to reduce the inflammation as well as plenty of rest. If you have been a victim of whiplash or a cervical neck injury, contact the Las Vegas personal injury offices of Benson & Bingham and ask for Joseph L. Benson II, Esq.: 702-382-9797 x. 226.”

Seat belts save lives in vehicle accidents in Nevada, and everywhere else. We all know this is true in the abstract, but recent news is really bringing it home for us. In a Reno car crash yesterday, a sergeant with the Reno Police Department is crediting proper child car seat installation and usage with keeping two children safe in a Northern Nevada vehicle accident that otherwise might have seriously injured or killed the two little ones. The accident left the vehicle the children were riding in completely totaled, yet the two youngsters were said to be uninjured. One child is only two weeks old, and the other just one year old – ages where children are incredibly easy to injure or worse in an accident serious enough to do significant damage to a vehicle. From a recent news story on the Nevada t-bone car crash:

“Police say a purple sedan failed to yield to oncoming traffic and got t-boned by a pickup truck. To make matters worse, the car had a two week old and a one year old in the back seat. Both of them were uninjured.

‘Ultimately, the majority of (their safety) I would attribute to the car seats themselves,’ said [Reno Police Sgt. Craig] Titterington.”

Benson & Bingham’s experienced Nevada t-bone vehicle crash attorneys help people who are injured in accidents like this. We understand the legal and medical issues that can arise from this kind of accident, and know how to help. See important information below, and then contact Benson & Bingham for a free consultation if you’ve been a victim of a t-bone car accident in Nevada.

“Injuries from car accidents caused by an angle approach are very telling by the location of such pain. Left sided impacts naturally may have left sided trauma and vice-versa. Often the force of the impact causes the body to move in the opposite direction of the hit. Thus, a right side impact will cause the body to, at first, go right with body extremities going the opposite direction given the forward momentum they had prior to and during the impact. The twisting and turning of the body joints cause major core injuries around the muscular skeletal system. T-bone accidents typically involve two vehicles or more that are traveling a moderate to fast speeds, and the injuries can be deadly. No reaction by either driver is completed given the emergent crash. Thus, we refer to these accidents as the “unexpected” crash scenarios.”

Motorcycle accidents are common in Nevada, and grow more common as the summer bike season gets underway. Here is an example of a recent Nevada motorcycle accident, this one in Reno, Nevada. According to the report, a vehicle turned in front of the motorcycle which led to the accident. The vehicle turned east down Gallaway Lane, according to the report, across the path of the biker who was heading in the northbound direction on Wrondel Way. This is over by Yori Park, on the east side of South Virginia Street near the Peppermill Resort Hotel. Fortunately the biker was said to be awake and talking when first responders arrived. He was still taken to the hospital for medical evaluation following the accident, however. This accident happened just a few days ago, on June 10th. That was Friday, and in the evening, just before 7 o’clock according to the report. The intersection was closed for some time following the accident.

Benson & Bingham are experienced motorcycle accident lawyers in Nevada. This is a particularly big area of the country for motorcycle riders and rallies, from Street Vibrations in Reno and Sparks to pleasure trips through the Las Vegas Strip, over the Grand Canyon, and more, many bikers on the road means many motorcycle accidents.

“Many of the motorcycle cases seen by Benson & Bingham arise from vehicles pulling in front of the motorcycle, vehicles tailgating or crowding a motorcycle, or vehicles not being able to see the cyclist. The consequences of an accident can be fatal and often cause severe road rash. The pain endured by a motorcyclist at the emergency room while doctors take a wire brush to scrape and remove rocks, pebbles and debris is unfathomable. Unfortunately, heavy scaring or plastic surgery and extensive physical therapy often follow.

As riders of both street and dirt bikes, Attorneys Ben Bingham and Joseph Benson respect and understand the obstacles often presented to motorcycle operators. Most riders take extreme precaution, as the risk associated with motorcycles is well understood. Since motorcycles allow good maneuverability, often times the fault is due to another motorist’s lack of attention or outright negligence, including DUI and DWI motorists.

If you or a loved one has been injured while operating a motorcycle, contact Benson & Bingham. We can provide the legal expertise and assistance needed to ensure your medical bills are paid and you receive deserved compensation for your pain and suffering from the cycling injury.”

Peg’s Glorified Ham and Eggs got a brutal interruption to their lunch as some unfortunate man crashed his truck into the restaurant. The individual who was driving the vehicle was a 50 year old local to the Reno area. It is thought that a medical condition or episode might have precipitated the loss of vehicle control that resulted in this crash. The driver was very seriously injured in this Reno truck crash, with a condition said to be life threatening. At last word he was still being treated at Renown Regional Medical Group. Fortunately, he was the only one injured. The rest of the damage was confined to property damage at the restaurant. That damage, while serious enough to warrant maybe a few days of restaurant closure, luckily did not cause any more bodily damage or death. A recent news report of this Nevada truck crash injury interviewed a family with a bundle of children had been looking at maybe getting seated outside just before the accident, but some or all of the kiddos wanted to escape the heat inside instead. Lucky for them it was a hot day, as the truck reportedly hit the post in front of the restaurant and the restaurant itself pretty darn hard. Some windows of the establishment, we understand them to be the big glass ones out front, were hit as well, meaning anyone out there would have also had the potential for being hit with flying and broken glass, as well.

In some cases that we at Benson & Bingham Attorneys at Law have seen, prescription drug interactions can cause vehicle accidents in Nevada when the co-created side effect induces dizziness, slowed reflexes, or even hallucinations or full unconsciousness. This can be the fault of medical malpractice in Nevada in some circumstances. This gentleman, who was said to be about 50 years old, could have a case for compensation for his injuries from the insurance company for the doctor, the pharmaceutical company, or others, depending on what induced his inability to control the vehicle. Benson & Bingham’s top Nevada truck accident injury attorneys know what to look for as we talk with you in a free consultation to see if you have a legal claim to pursue. We’ll let you know where we think you stand, and help you in any way we can.

A very bad vehicle accident happened this morning just outside of Hawthorne. This Northern Nevada vehicle accident took place on Interstate 95 to the north of Hawthorne, to be precise. One individual died as a result of the accident. Additionally, four people were injured in serious conditions as they were thrown from the vehicle in the crash. These individuals were, per the Nevada Highway Patrol, taken to Reno via airlift from a helicopter. The wreck closed the entire highway for time. The freeway was then reopened at a later point but with the southbound lane completely closed and the northbound lane having to cover the traffic from both directions with Nevada Highway Patrol supervising the area and the switches.

From a news report on the Northern Nevada fatal car accident, we know the following:

“The silver Toyota Sienna was registered in Washington state and had two Washington passengers and four from Germany, Dauber said. For a reason still being determined it rolled as it headed south on U.S. 95 just south of Walker lake, Dauber said. At least five were ejected, Dauber said.

The one person who died on scene was from Germany. Four others have serious injuries and were initially taken to Mt. Grant Hospital in Hawthorne.

Because of weather problems Care Flight had difficulty getting to Hawthorne so arrangements were being made to take them on a military helicopter, Dauber said.”

This sounds like a terrible case of someone being killed on vacation in Nevada. That type of occurrence happens with unfortunate regularity. We’ve seen in the news recently the joy ride plane excursion that ended in death for one bachelor party guest and the pilot of the plane. Vehicle accidents and pedestrian accidents in Nevada are also common ways for out of town visitors to meet tragic ends.

Benson & Bingham Attorneys at Law handle vacation death cases and all types of personal injury and wrongful death matters across Nevada. Our skilled attorneys know the law, and more importantly, know how to get the best resolution possible for your case. Benson & Bingham offer free initial consultations because we know that someone facing significant medical bills and injury does not want to worry about the cost to see if there is a case for them to pursue. We’ll walk you through your options, and represent you in a legal claim if that is the best course of action.